Aside From Wins, Bucs Have One Goal This Year
October 1st, 2026
Needs a reboot?
Whatever chances the Bucs had this week of somehow getting back in the playoff race — yes, you either play for the playoffs or you play for the draft — seemed to vanish earlier this week when it was learned Baker Mayfield would be out three weeks with a dislocated thumb.
Mayfield may be out longer, but we’ll see in a couple of weeks if he forces himself back onto the field.
Joe doesn’t need to explain to Bucs fans how dire an 0-3 start is. An 0-4 start is almost certain death for a season.
One reason Mayfield’s injury is so gloomy is because rookie undrafted free agent Jalon Daniels will be starting in his place.
The NFL is unkink to rookie undrafted free agent quarterbacks, though in recent history there have been some who have shown a pulse. Duck Hodges and Tommy DiVito, of the Steelers and Giants, respectively, each found a way to win three games as undrafted rookies.
And they both found ways to lose three games as undrafted rookies.
Joe wonders, as bad as Mayfield had been playing in the first three games, will losing Mayfield for a short period really be that dooming?
Nick Shook of NFL.com ranks quarterbacks and has Mayfield at No. 29. (Interestingly, he has America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, at No. 32. So two of the last three Bucs franchise quarterbacks are ranked in the bottom-four of the league.)
While the Bucs have their hands full trying to get Daniels up to speed, can the Bucs use Mayfield’s downtime to get him right? Maybe Mayfield just needed to take some time to step back, collect his thoughts, and attack this Zac Robinson offense with a fresh start. You know, a reset?
The way Mayfield played the first three games, you cannot tell Joe no one at One Buc Palace didn’t have buyer’s remorse.
Mayfield is in a 2-10 run. That’s generally not the approved method for a quarterback the team hoped to invest some $165 million in.
Right now, Joe wouldn’t say the Bucs’ biggest problem is an 0-3 start. The biggest task is getting Mayfield right.
October 1st, 2026 at 4:01 am
As of the latest PFF update after Week 3, Jamel Dean has an 79.7 overall PFF grade, which ranks 8th among 98 qualified CBs.
His breakdown is interesting:
* Overall: 79.7 — 8th/98 CBs
* Coverage: 72.5 — 18th/98
* Run defense: 91.4 — 1st/98
* Solo tackles: 14 — 10th
* Forced fumbles: 2 — 1st
* Passer rating allowed: 101.2
October 1st, 2026 at 4:08 am
The best thing for Mayfield would be some competition. Seems like he has been simply trying to prove to the world that he is a franchise QB and also wanted to stick it to his former teaam.. He pushed too hard and looked like one of the worst qbs in the league (the ranking of 29 might have been too kind). If Jadon somehow puts up some positive numbers and actually doies something which Baker has not done too much since the bye last year: win a game, then we have a qb controversy. Bowles will be in survival mode, I seriously doubt if Baker will be given a long leash when he comes back from injury but given that he is the $155 million man, we might be forced to endure him as fans.
October 1st, 2026 at 4:12 am
Teacherman, Jamal Dean is working out so well for the Steelers that they were able to flip Porter to dallas for a 2nd round pick.
October 1st, 2026 at 5:00 am
Rub some dirt on it Mayfield, I feel disrespected!
October 1st, 2026 at 5:17 am
Not much of anything positive can be said of this team right now. Boy did they screw up keeping Bowels and letting Liam leave for Jax. May just be the biggest mistake this franchise has ever made.
October 1st, 2026 at 5:58 am
Wahhh wahhh wahh Liam wahh wahh wah Mike Evan’s. Good lord just shut up about coaches or players that are no longer here. Sound like the 35 year old dude who still stuck up on his high school girlfriend. Dean is also gone, we get it shoulda woulda coulda, bunch of grown ass babies. Yall Brady fans are showing your bandwagoning, this is nothing new for us true bucs fans. What do you think it’s a Bucs life actually means?
October 1st, 2026 at 6:30 am
Zac Robinson blows. Almost as bad as Bowles.
October 1st, 2026 at 6:34 am
The biggest task is getting bowels gone.
October 1st, 2026 at 6:40 am
Agree with Megan13. No one questioned Dean’s abilities. He was just always in the tub.
I agree, its a shame would couldn’t keep Liam, but if the Glazer’s fired a coach with a winning record, they would have been ridiculed all across the NFL.
Evans had a higher contract offer from the Bucs. What else is Licht supposed to do?
October 1st, 2026 at 6:45 am
As far as how much damage Baker’s injury does to out playoff hallucinations I can say this for an actual fact, Jack. No matter how drunk I’ve ever gotten I have never fallen off the floor. Believe me. I’ve tried. It simply can’t be done. How much worse could it possibly get from here?
October 1st, 2026 at 6:46 am
From a previous article, the stupid penalties being committed by the Bucs is what we did in the lost decade. Having the ball at the 7 yard line and ending up on the 27, is just F@*#ing ridiculous.
BA came in and it STOPPED. So don’t tell me that its on the players, that is coaching. The team becomes what is emphasized in practice. BA brought in refs and ripped players in PRACTICE who committed penalties, so the penalties stopped happening in games.
October 1st, 2026 at 6:48 am
^^^ Megan13 = Megoat13, friggin spell check?
October 1st, 2026 at 6:58 am
Joe says:
seemed to vanish earlier this week when it was learned Baker Mayfield would be out three weeks with a dislocated thumb.
——————————————————————————————
Actually, the way Baker has played, our chances to make the playoffs were enhanced when he was injured. He’s done nothing but hurt the offense and make the offensive line look bad.
October 1st, 2026 at 7:02 am
Truth be Told us it Says:
October 1st, 2026 at 5:17 am
Not much of anything positive can be said of this team right now.
——————————————————————————————-
Have you noticed how well the defense is playing, especially Sunday. With that defense and a calm, capable QB everything is looking up.
October 1st, 2026 at 7:30 am
Move to London?
October 1st, 2026 at 8:29 am
Trade Baker. He sucks.
October 1st, 2026 at 8:48 am
Hey Joe. 2-10 equals 12 games, not 10.
October 1st, 2026 at 8:49 am
Saw that you just corrected it!
October 1st, 2026 at 9:30 am
Anybody saying Zack Robinson sucks, including you joe, needs to start watching the all 22. Recievrs have been open. And quick.
Joe sees the film like anyone else. It’s very easy. But Robinson also is responsible for leading men, adjusting to what Mayfield is and is not seeing, understanding what works well in practice and what only appears to work, etc. Coaching is a complex animal. –Joe
October 1st, 2026 at 9:43 am
This is all on Baker. Watch all 22. Receivers have been open and early. We need a qb in draft. Been a fan of this team since 95 and sick of wishing for a young good long term qb. Bowels needs to go. Promote robinson. Like I said, receivers are open
October 1st, 2026 at 9:48 am
History proves it is extremely difficult to make the playoff from an 0-3 start with your best qb, healthy team an competent HC,OC, DC….
The Bucs sitting at 0-3 with a scab pretending to be a qb, many injured players, one of the worst HC, Dc and OC has everything against them….
Everything now should shift to high draft picks and getting the curse of Bowels broken, FIRED and finding a WINNER to be the Bucs next HC!
October 1st, 2026 at 10:44 am
If Mayfield can’t hit quick passes and see over the line he needs to go. Never should have resigned him. He is streaky at best. At least bowles will be gone
October 1st, 2026 at 10:47 am
The best thing for Mayfield, and also for Daniels, would be if his offensive line would learn how to block….
October 1st, 2026 at 11:27 am
So Licht drafted Jameis with the first pick in the draft, and now he’s rated as one of the worst in the league. Baker was given a massive contract by Licht, and he’s 29th out 32 QBs. Why does Licht still have a job?
October 1st, 2026 at 12:58 pm
Joe says:
…But Robinson also is responsible for leading men, adjusting to what Mayfield is and is not seeing, understanding what works well in practice and what only appears to work, etc. Coaching is a complex animal. –Joe
—————————————————————————————–
So Joe! Are you blaming Baker’s horrible play on Robinson? It seems more reasonable to blame the sputtering offense on the horribly playing QB.
October 1st, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Tye Says:
October 1st, 2026 at 9:48 am
History proves it is extremely difficult to make the playoff from an 0-3 start with your best qb, healthy team an competent HC,OC, DC….
—————————————————————————————–
History does’t know the NFC South! ROFL!!!!!
October 1st, 2026 at 1:01 pm
Its gotta be tge offensive line. 3 drops isnt that big of a deal in a small sampke size.
Maybe mauch can get to being a strength again